Mock EIS Presentation

Kauai Wind Farm

Environmental Impact Statement

Prepared by Pacific Environmental Assessment Coalition

On behalf of Four Winds Energy Inc.

1. Project Proposal

Purpose and Need

2. Alternatives

No action

Scale

Location

Operation Treatments

Technologies & Design

3. Affected Environment

Human Environment

Consequences & Alternatives

Physical Environment

Consequences & Alternatives

Biological Environment

Consequences & Alternatives

Content

Introduction:

Four Winds Energy proposes to build a 10 megawatt wind farm in Kauai, Hawaii.

The project would work in conjunction with the Kauai Island Energy Cooperative.

Purpose and Need

Lower dependence on foreign oil

Lower cost of electricity for consumers

Tap into unused renewable resources

Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative

Location

Alternatives

No Action Alternative

Limitations in other renewable energy sources Solar, PV

Hydropower

Biomass

Fossil fuels

Other concerns Energy efficiency

Sourcing energy from other islands

Options Eliminated from Further Study

Larger Scale Environmentally Intrusive

Negative impacts on endangered avian species

Smaller Scale Contributes little to

Kauai’s energy portfolio

Alternatives For Further Protection of Avian Species

“Relatively small changes to wind-turbine operation resulted in nightly reductions in bat mortality, ranging from 44% to 93%, with marginal annual power loss (< 1% of total annual output).”

(Arnett et al, Altering Turbine Speed Reduces Bat Mortality at Wind-Energy Facilities)

Operation Treatments

Increasing Cut-in Speed HOW: increasing the cut-in speed to ≥ 5 m/s

PRO: reducing the risk to avian species when energy potential is lower

CON: unknown how this applies to native avian fauna populations

Restricting Nocturnal Operations HOW: limiting operations after point of total darkness

PRO: mitigate threat to nocturnal Newell’s Shearwater population

CON: cost-prohibitive, significant loss in energy production

Seasonal Operation HOW: limit operations during the critical reproductive period for Newell’s Shearwater

PRO: reduce the impact on Newell’s Shearwaters population on Kauai

CON: cost prohibitive, significant loss in energy production

Technological Applications

Ultrasonic Acoustic Deterrence HOW: Installation of “ultrasonic boom boxes”

PRO: Aimed to reduce bat fatalities at wind farms

CON: Inconclusive results, unknown risk

De-Tect, Inc. Monitoring & Mitigation Systems

BirdMap Site Pre-Screening Risk Assessment

MERLIN Avian Radar System

VESPER: Fixed-beam Vertical Profile Bird & Bat Radar

SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) “DeTect's MERLIN SCADA is the only proven bird and bat

mortality risk technology in operational use at wind farms”

(http://www.detect-inc.com/wind.html)

(http://www.detect-inc.com/)

Alternative Designs

Underground Transmission Lines HOW: install new transmission lines under the

surface and tie-in with existing overhead transmission lines

PRO: reduce additional threats to avian species

CON: increased cost (installation & maintenance)

Saphonian Model

“Curved, sail-shaped body which follows a back-and-forth, 3-D knot motion”

“Allows the conversion of the majority of the wind kinetic energy into mechanical energy, either directly (mechanical transmission) or through the use of pistons (hydraulic transmission)”

(Saphonenergy.com)

Alternative Designs

EWICON Model: Electrostatic Wind Energy Convertor

Fuller Wind Turbine Powered by the Tesla turbine which “is spun by the surface tension of fluids, which “grab” the wheel and turn it before exiting out the center.”

Alternative Locations

High average wind speeds

Not on protected lands

Proximity to coast and current roadways

Between two major populated areas

Why This Location?

Wind Speed on Kauai

Offshore Wind Farms

Higher Winds… Higher Prices

Kauai’s Shallow Reefs

The island of Kauai is surrounded with shallow reefs which would force offshore wind turbines in deeper,

more expensive waters.

Cost of Installation & Repair

Affected Environment

Community and Culture

“The Garden Isle”

The people have a friendly nature, laid back lifestyle.

Residents consider themselves to be stewards of the island

Native Hawaiian traditions are very important and even legally protected

Population Centers

Koloa and Poipu

Koloa is a small town with permanent residents

Poipu is a resort area, catering mainly to tourists

Lihue

The center of island government and commerce

Total combined population of 8,599

Public Services

Kauai Island Utility Cooperration

Active solar and hydropower facilities

The main emergency medical facility is Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihue

Wilcox is designated as a Level 3 Trauma Center, serious cases are transported to Oahu

Transportation Infrastructure

Nawiliwili port in Lihue

Lihue is home to the island’s main airport

Closest major entrance to the site is Highway 50, a two lane rural road

Kahili Road connects Highway

50 to smaller roads on site

Regulations

Federal

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

State

HRS 343, Act 50, Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA)

Article XII, Section 7 of the Hawai‘i State Constitution

Little negative impact due to location and scale of project

Will work with Kauai County to insure adequate transportation infrastructure

Open communication with Kauai Island Utility Cooperative to minimize down time while transitioning to power grid

Will conduct Cultural Impact Assessment to ensure no impact

Community and Cultural Impacts

Human Environment

Current and Future Land Use

Economic Growth

Farmlands/Timberlands

Community Impacts

Economic Growth

Increase Self Reliance

Lower Pollution

Promote More Jobs

“The Garden Isle”

Human Environment Impacts

A very small portion of farmland will be cleared for the wind farm site.

Local input will be taken into consideration to achieve economic growth and still preserve the

Kauai way of life.

Physical Environment

Hydrology

Surface Water

Ground Water

Floodplain

Water Quality

Storm Water Runoff

Geology

Topography

Soils

Seismic Activity

Paleontology

Pollutants

Hazardous Wastes

Noise

Energy

Air Quality

Biological Environment

Kauai Conservation Area

36 natural community types

383 endemic plant species 80 considered rare/endangered

15 endangered avian species Newell’s Shearwater

Invasive Species

Most significant:

Feral Pigs

Polynesian (AD 400)

& European (1778)

Also:

Feral goats

Mule deer

Introduced rodent species

Project Scope

Hulē’ia National Wildlife Refuge

Four Winds Energy proposes to build a 10 megawatt wind farm in Kauai, Hawaii

Alternative locations, designs have been considered

Impact to culture, biological, physical, and human environment have been considered

Working in partnership with Kauai Island Utility Cooperative towards sustainable energy goals

Summary